Spine rest or support.



A. S. CRAIG.

SPINE REST 0R SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.19m.

1,225,776, Patented Ma 15,1917.

WITNESSES. l/Vl/E/VTOR fi y MM 5 ATTORNEY @FFTQE.

ARTHUR STILL CRAIG, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

' SPINE REST OR SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 191?.

Application filed July 3, 1914. Serial No. 848,893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR STILL CRAIG,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spine Rests or Supports; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to spine rests or supports, and has for its object the provision of a suitable appliance for use in connection with chairs, benches, or the like, for the purpose of assisting or inducing a proper position in sitting. in carrying out this object, a seat attachment has been devised, designed to be located in such a rela tion in connection with the back of the seat that certain elastic or yielding elements, forming a part of the attachment will be presented in proper position for engagement with those parts of the body on which pressure is desired to be exerted.

Having this general object in view, the invention will now be described with reference to one form of embodiment thereof which has been found to be thoroughly practical and eflicient, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a face view of the plate member of the appliance with the elastic elements attached thereto, but omitting the covering and the link members for compressing the sides of the springs and the latter being shown facing directly forward;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the appliance with the spring-compressing links in place, but the covering being omitted;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view (on a smaller scale) of the device as inclosed by a suitable covering; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation (on a still smaller scale) showing the device in use and illustrating the approximate position which it is designed to assume with relation to the body and to the bony pelvis of the person occupying the seat in connection with which the appliance is employed.

In the drawing, the body of the device is illustrated as comprising a plate member 3 to the ends of which are secured a pair of elastic elements 1 projecting forward from the face of the plate 3. Preferably the clastic elements used are conical helical springs, the apex ends of which are secured to the plate 1 in any approved manner, as by turning down the corners 4 of the plate over the adjacent ends of the springs. If it should be desired not to secure the device to the chair, then the plate 3 should be of the appropriate height, when resting upon the seat of the chair, to position the elastic elements opposite the thick gluteal muscles of the pelvic region of the person for whom the appliance is to be adapted, and the springs are to be the necessary distance apart to leave an open space between them for accommodating the sacral region so that no pressure will be exerted upon the base of the spine itself. Should it be desired, however, to secure the appliance permanently or temporarily to the back of the seat, as by means of suitable fastening screws (not shown) passing through the openings 6 and into the back-rest of the seat, the lower part of the plate member 3, below the dotted line 5 (as indicated in Fig. 1), may be dispensed with.

With the springs 1 facing directly forward, the action of the springs would be wholly in a horizontal direction, whereas a more effectivecorrective action is obtained if the spring pressure is exerted in a direction upward as well as forward, as will be later explained. Accordingly, a link 2 is applied to each of the springs for connecting the upper portions of its convolutions and holding them in compressed relation (as illustrated in Fig. 2), while the lower portions of said convolutions remain spread apart, thus causing the spring at its forward end to assume an upward as well as forward facing position.

The use and advantages of the appliance constructed as above described will now be explained. In sitting postures there is always a constant tendency of the bony pelvis and the lumbar region of the spine to be drawn into abnormal position because of the tension of the extensor muscles of the thigh, which muscles are kept under a strain or tension whenever the body is in sitting position. The result of this tension, when not counteracted, is to pull the pelvis and lumbar portion of the spine backward and so reverse the normal lumbar curve, with backbone of the person, but these are not directed to the solution of the specific problem which is sought to be remedied by the present invention, which is, namely, the balancing of the backward and downward pull which said extensor muscles exert on the back of the pelvis, and to accomplish this balancing action by means of a forward and upward push upon the pelvis, and particularly upon the thick gluteal muscles overlying the broad ili'ac bones, and at the same time avoiding any pressure upon the sacral region whence important nerves emanate, or upon the sensitive lumbar or kidney area. The position of the springs and the direction of their action are, therefore, such as to effect rotation of the pelvis forward upon its natural support oraxis, viz., the tuberosity of the ischium 7 (see Fig. l), and in accomplishing this movement the nerve centers at the base of the spine are not subjected to any injurious pressure because of the space provided between the springs. The purpose ofadapting the springs to exert an upward as well as, forward pressure is now apparent, since the line of action of the springs force will be most efiective when directed along the dotted line 8 indicated in Fig. 4c.

It will be obvious that a simple and effective means is thus provided for carrying out the object, of the invention. The yielding character of the spring elements gently compels the maintenance of a correct sitting posture while at the same time permitting any change of position or even a leaning forward of the body, while continuing the supporting action. The appliance is intended, not only as an aid to growing children in training them into the habit of assuming normal healthful positions, but serves likewise to correct and improve the sitting position of adults with material benefits as regards both comfort and health.

As illustrated in the drawing, a covering ,9 may be provided for the appliance, and it is intended that the springs shall be so coiled or convoluted that the springs may be compressed sufficiently tocollapse the same wholly within the same plane, so that on extreme compression of the springs the total thickness of the appliance will then be equal to that of the covering, the plate and the diameter of the wire comprising the springs, together with the thickness of any padding that may be employed between the springs and covering (none being herein shown). The covering may be of any suitable flexible material, a fabric having a smooth non-adhesive surface being pref r d.

While the foregoing represents what is now conceived to. be the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, the right is reserved to any changes or modifications which may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims:

1. The combination with a seat, of a supporting member mounted at the rear of the seat, and a plurality of elastic elements carried by said supporting member at points above the seat and located in position to exert pressure only at opposite sides of and immediately adjacent the base of the spine of a person sitting upon the seat.

2. The combination with a seat, of a supporting member mounted at the rear of the seat, and a pair of elastic elements carried by said supporting member at points above the seat and spaced apart in position to exert a combined upward and forward pressure only at opposite sides ofand immediately adjacent the base of the spine of a person sitting upon the seat.

3. In combination with a seat, an appliance comprising a member adapted to be held against the back of the seat, and a pair of conical helical springs having their apex ends secured to, said member and projecting forward therefrom in position to engage the opposite sides of the pelvic portion of a person sitting upon the seat and exert pressure thereon, said springs being spaced apart to avoid pressure upon the base of the spine, and means for holding compressed the upper portions of the convolutions of each spring while permitting their lower portions to remain spread apart, thereby adapting the same to exert an upward as well as for-ward pressure.

4. In combination with a seat, a plate adapted to bekheld against the back of the seat, a pair of conical helical springs in front of said plate, the upper corners of the latter being turned over to clamp the ends of the apices of said springs and support said springs in horizontally spaced relation, and a link associated with each spring and embracing the upper portions of its convolutions to compress the same while permitting their lower portions to remain spread apart, thereby causing the springs to face in an upward and forward direction.

5, A device of the character described comprising a plate, a pair of spaced lugs provided on said plate, a pair of conical helical springs, each having its apex end In testimony whereof I affix my signacllamprid 1igetween one of slaid lugs and said ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

p ate, in s compressing t e upper portions of the convolutions of each spring While ARTHUR STILL CRAIG 5 permitting their lower portions to remain Witnesses:

spread apart, and a flexible covering for CHAS. W. GERARD,

said plate and springs. CONGER B. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

